The Emerald Isle: Five Things You’ll Love about our Ireland Vacation Packages 2024

We’re running a number of guided small group tours in Ireland in 2024 and 2025, focusing on the country’s spectacular west coast, the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’. Famed for its rugged coastline, native Irish speakers and fascinating geology, west and south-west Ireland is a real treat to explore, and the perfect place to discover on our small group tours! Read on for five reasons to choose our 2024 Ireland tours. Spaces still available on our September 2024 trip from Dublin to Galway Bay and the Cliffs of Moher.

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The coastline of Valentia Island on Ireland's south-west coast.

1. See Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes

Ireland is full of beautiful scenery, but we feel that our tours travel to some of the very best landscapes in the country. Travel in comfort and in good company. Average group size is 10 to 12.

On our West Coast of Ireland Tour: Galway Bay to the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll tour from Dublin to County Clare, and explore the extraordinary Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. The Burren is internationally recognised for its unique rock formations, archaeological sites and traditions, while the Cliffs of Moher are an incredible natural feature on County Clare’s coastline. This tour even involves a boat trip to the Aran Islands, which are filled with fascinating natural features.

Heading further south, our 2025 South-West Ireland Tour will focus on the Dingle Peninsula, a picturesque part of County Kerry. Dingle is known for its long beaches, rocky cliffs and towering mountains, and you’ll be able to explore the peninsula in earnest on this small group tour. You can also enjoy another of Kerry’s iconic landscapes on this tour, as the equally-appealing Ring of Kerry and Iveragh Peninsula are also included! Call or email to hear when the 20205 dates are released.

2. Discover the History of Ireland

We’ve already mentioned the archaeological sites dotting the Burren, but our guided tours of Ireland will include visits to plenty of other historic sites too.

These include the ruined clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. The 3,000-year old fort remains intact on the cliff edge, high above the Atlantic Ocean, and a lasting testament to the settlement of Ireland’s islands.

Our South-West Ireland tour also features the history of island settlers, with an exploration of the lives of the inhabitants of the Blasket Islands (complete with boat trip) and the more distant Skellig Islands, through an award-winning experience centre.

This patch of Ireland features more modern history as well – you’ll see imposing castles dotted across the lush landscape, and visit the inn once run by an Antarctic explorer.

3. Enjoy Geology Tours to Significant Sites

Geology runs through our tours of Ireland, and both are perfect if you just have a passing interest or if you’re a professional.

You’ll be staying in the heart of the Burren Geopark in County Clare, notable for its exposed karst landscapes, cave systems and mountains, all of which we’ll explore on our Wild Atlantic Way Tour.

Our South-West Ireland tour has plenty of attractions of its own; the Dingle Peninsula offers exposed cliffs, fossil-filled beaches and ancient sand dunes, and Iveragh holds the tallest mountain in all of Ireland!

Along with visiting key geological sites, you’ll gain plenty of understanding and insights, as seen in the next point…

4. Tour Ireland with our Expert Guides

Our tours are known for their Expert Guides, who travel with the group and provide an extra layer of understanding to everything that you see. This can include geologists who are perfectly positioned to reveal the immense natural history of an area, tour guides with intriguing folklore and facts, and photographers who can show you the best spots for a memorable picture.

Our Ireland vacation packages come with the expertise of several leaders, including geology professors John Walsh and Ken Higgs, and accredited Irish tour guide Máirín Ahern.

John and Ken will help you to ‘read the rocks’ with an engaging look at Ireland’s deep-time history, while Máirín’s extensive knowledge of Ireland will really enhance your journey across the country.

5. Relax at Award-Winning Accommodation in Ireland

We pride ourselves on tracking down top-quality hotels, inns and country houses for our tours, where you’ll always receive a warm welcome and a relaxing stay. Our guided tours of Ireland are no exception, with both tours featuring highly-recommended accommodation.

On our County Clare tour, you can enjoy the delights of the Wild Honey Inn, located in the heart of the Burren. For our South-West Ireland tour, you can look forward to stays at Ballymaloe House near Cork, the coastal Pax Guest House near Dingle, and the rural retreat of Ard na Sidhe country house.

Tempted by our line-up of Ireland vacation packages? Click for the full details on our West Coast of Ireland Tour (1-7 Sept 2024) or South-west Ireland: Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry Tour (2025 dates to be released soon)